Economic Extremes Measured by New York City's Skyscrapers

The Washington Post performs a sort of reverse archaeology: looking skyward to the heights of building for a record of the country's economic fortunes.

1 minute read

January 11, 2016, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Emily Badger examines the influence of economics on city skylines, or "how construction costs and condo prices shape the skyline, how building booms chase business cycles, why new record-breaking towers reach the heights they do."

Badger is sharing the work of Jason Barr, an economist and author who calls his area of study "skynomics." Barr's new book, Building the Skyline: The birth and growth of Manhattan's skyscrapers, and the article focus specifically on New York City. Depending on the era, according to the timeline laid out in this article, the economy pushed the development of skyscrapers for different reasons. One pattern Barr has noticed shared by those eras: "Periods of extreme income inequality in the U.S. have occurred alongside the growth of New York's skyline."

FULL STORY: How skyscrapers reveal the rise and fall of American fortunes

Friday, January 8, 2016 in The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Architecture Urban Development New York New York City Skyscrapers Economy View More

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